Trade and industry minister Alec Erwin is to lead a delegation of local business and trade representatives to the UK later this month to officially launch SA's information and communications technology and electronics (ICTE) communication and marketing campaign or SAVANT.
The public-private partnership between government and industry is being launched abroad to woo further investment in the latest available South African technology and communications product, skills and infrastructure.
Having successfully entered its second phase of development, Erwin believes SAVANT is prepared for this next stage.
"All resources have been made available to ensure that we have an effective entry point into international markets, beginning with the UK. SA has an established reputation in terms of its capability, skills and innovation within these sectors. Our job is to demonstrate and communicate this influence. To date, SAVANT has acquired the necessary buy-in of both national government as well as local businesses and shown a level of sustainability that enables us to introduce the campaign to foreign markets," comments Erwin.
The Department of Trade and Industry (the DTI), together with the ICT Development Council, founder partners and industry representative bodies, have identified six niche areas that SAVANT will take to market. These include: IT training and certification, business process outsourcing and call centres, ICT infrastructure into Africa, niche software and niche application enhancement, science and technology parks, and wireless development and application software for wireless development.
"It is in these areas where we believe the country has the best chance of obtaining recognition and where we stand the most likelihood of attaining commitment from English and Irish industry role-players and companies," says the minister.
"SAVANT will serve the country by opening up channels of opportunity for industry, particularly within the electronics field. Local development effort has produced many unique products in response to local requirements and SA has demonstrated capability to apply First World technology in innovative ways to both established and emerging markets," says Sar'e Grobler, project manager: ICT and Electronics division, Trade and Investment South Africa, the DTI.
"Evidence of this is the local design and manufacture of innovative wireless applications, smart card technology, prepayment and metering systems, transmission lines and infrastructure, to name a few. We are determined to make an impression overseas," she concludes.
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SAVANT is a public-private partnership between government and industry. It is the vanguard of the South African information and communications technology and electronics sectors (ICTE).
Supported by leading industry partners and the ICT Development Council, SAVANT brands and markets applied South African innovation both locally and abroad.
Visit www.savant.co.za.
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